AST in conjunction with Dynamic Potential's Amanda O'Brien are now offering Manual Handling Training either on site or at our training centres.

Manual handling is an often neglected area of safe work practices despite the fact that incorrect and unsafe manual handling practices amount to more than one third of all work related injuries. This translates into a massive human cost, compensation cost and loss of productivity. On completion of this course participants will gain an understanding of the legal requirements for manual handling, apply sound manual handling techniques and performance of the four stage approach.

As the Manual Handling course content depends on industry and work practices the content varies. However as a guide:

Legislation in the workplace – OHS Act; Regulations and Code of Practice.
Body Mechanics – recognize muscle compensation in bad manual handling; correctly stabilize to twist; lift and lower; pre and post stretching and working posture and position.
Four approach to manual handling – Risk identification; risk assessment; risk control and evaluation.
Case Study Overviews
Dynamic Potential “3C’s + LED” approach to manual handling – Cohesion; communication; conflict resolution; solving; leadership; experiential and decision.

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AST has commenced a program of training for PT Petrosea in Balikpapan, Indonesia to enhance the skills of their rigging and crane crews. The training is aimed at ensuring operators are competent as described by the National Standard for Operators and User of Industrial Equipment in Australia (NOHSC 1006 [2001]), and conversant with relevant standards for rigging/crane operations.

PT Petrosea is a leading engineering and construction company in Indonesia with over 2000 employees across Indonesia. The training provided by AST is being conducted at Petrosea’s deep water supply base at Kariangau, Tanjumg Batu, Balikpapan.

The supply base consists of a wharf facility with workshops, extensive craneage, and materials handling capacity to receive large individual shipments as well as large volume bulk materials deliveries.

The training provided by AST is aimed at ensuring the site conducts lifting and rigging operations in accordance with Australian Standards and ‘Best Industry Practice’.

Removal of sea fasteners from a radial stacker delivered to Petrosea’s Deep
Water Supply Base – task requires experienced and competent riggers

AST has recently completed a second contract with Griffin Coal providing training on a new crusher/apron feeder installed at the Ewington Mine in Collie, Western Australia.

The contract included the development of a training package for the new equipment and onsite delivery to approximately 60 maintenance and operations personnel.

The equipment is designed to crush and transfer over burden from the open pit to a stockpile area. The benefit of this process is a reduction in hauling distances for mobile equipment, and hence considerable operational savings.

McLanahan's Crusher and the Crushing Roller prior to refurbishment

The crushing unit is a McLanahan’s Super Black Diamond single roll crusher which is fed material from a chain driven apron feeder. The crushed material is then dropped onto a discharge conveyor and then to a face conveyor which transfers the material to a new location approximately 1km from the source.

Apron Feeder Breaker

The equipment known as an Apron Feeder Breaker (AFB) was designed and constructed by Piacentini & Son in Bunbury, Western Australia.

AST has recently entered into a partnership with Kaefer Integrated Services Pty Ltd to open a combined integrated services and training centre in Darwin, Northern Territory.

The aim of the partnership is to provide a one stop shop in the Northern Territory, with the capability to provide nationally recognised training, specialist labour, maintenance services and project management.

Kaefer are a well established international company that specialise in:

• Construction
• Maintenance
• Access management
• Insulation, Cladding, and Sheetmetal
• Asbestos Removal
• Building Roof and Wall Cladding
• Protective Coatings

In Australia, Kaefer have ongoing works at Alcan Gove in the Northern Territory, Queensland Alumina in Queensland, and Karratha in the North West of Western Australia.

This partnership is a significant boost to the profile of Australian Skills Training, and represents substantial opportunities for both companies.

The joint facility is planned to open in late 2006.

For further information contact:

Chris Gittens – Managing Director AST (+618 9434 3744) or via email ast@astpl.com

Chris Thomas – NT Operations Manager – Kaefer Integrated Services Pty Ltd (+618 9224 4622) or via email c.thomas@kaefer.com.au

On request from the Marine and Offshore Global Group, AST has conducted a public course in Abu Dhabi on lifting and rigging practices. The course attracted a number of candidates from across the Middle East, with the training focused on those in supervisory and management roles.

AST Trainer (Keith Gittens) presenting rigging and lifting practices

Evening meal with students

Keith Gittens with the students

Enjoying a traditional Middle Eastern tea break!

AST has commenced a training program at Nippon Steel on the Indonesian Island of Batam to provide training and assessment for 65 scaffolders to Australian standards (NOHSC 1006 [2001]). The program includes validating the competence of 41 experienced scaffolders to ensure they are currently meeting the required standard. The second group are new employees with Nippon Steel who are being trained as scaffolders/riggers to support current construction projects.

Nippon steel has a number of major oil and gas construction projects including major work with multinational energy company Total.

Derrick Thanaraja presenting Basic
Scaffold training to new employees
at Nippon Steel Batam

This training is further recognition of AST’s international success in delivering quality training outcomes.

AST have recently completed training for Griffin Coal in Collie, Western Australia, in the operation and maintenance of a specialised mobile conveyor system. The equipment is specifically designed to enable the handling and disposal of over burden from the open pit.

The equipment consists of three sections of conveyor (Feed boot, Tripper, and Stacker) which are all track mounted. Each unit has its only hydraulic power pack to drive the tracks and in the case of the stacker provide a slewing capability.

AST where requested to develop a training package and deliver training to approximately 60 operation and maintenance personnel at Griffin’s Ewington Mine. In addition to training, AST also provided assistance in developing operating procedures, Job Safety Analysis, and identifying maintenance/operational requirements.

‘A’ Frame on Tripper conveyor

Head end of track mounted Stacker

AST has recently become accredited to delivery the new Safety Awareness Training Certificate (former green card).

This training is aimed at those working in or looking to gain employment in the building and construction industry in Western Australia.

This course is designed to give participants an understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the OHS legislation, and provides the necessary skills to identify hazards in the workplace and implement controls.

Effective 01 January 2007 it will be mandatory for workers in the building and construction industry in Western Australia to have completed an accredited course in Safety Awareness Training.

AST conducts Safety Awareness Training every Friday 8:00 to 12:00 at its training centre in Spearwood, Western Australia.

For further information contact:

Renee Bee - (08) 9434 3744

AST has recently entered into an agreement with PT Dua Utama Jaya to conduct scheduled training at Batam Island, Indonesia. PT Dua Utama Jaya will act as an agent for AST in Indonesia, and will receive ongoing support from AST including training of trainers.

The Island of Batam is a large industrial area in Indonesia that supports ship building, offshore repair & maintenance, and manufacturing.

It is strategically located close to Singapore (45 minutes by ferry) and Malaysia.

The training centre will consist of four classrooms and a training area for conducting courses in, Dogging, Rigging (basic to advanced), Scaffolding (basic to advanced), and Crane Operation.

All training will be conducted in accordance with Australian standards [NOHSC 1006 (2001)] – Certification Standard for Users and operators of Industrial Equipment

It is expected that the first schedule course will commence in early October 2006.

For further information contact:

Chris Gittens – Managing Director AST (+618 9434 3744) or via email ast@astpl.com

AST has recently completed industrial skills training for a client (JGC Nigeria Limited) in the coastal city of Port Harcourt in Nigeria.

Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state and port town in southern Nigeria. It lies along the Bonny River (an eastern distributary of the Niger), 41 miles (66 km) upstream from the Gulf of Guinea.

Founded in 1912 in an area traditionally inhabited by the Ijaw people, it serves as a port, named for Lewis Harcourt - the colonial secretary.

Port Harcourt has long been an important merchant port and is today the centre of Nigeria’s oil industry.

The training consisted of several scaffold courses, rigging courses, and crane operator courses. All training was conducted in accordance with the national standard in Australia for users and operators of industrial equipment (NOHSC 1006 [2001])

The training and the request from JGC Nigeria Limited is recognition of AST’s international success in the delivery of quality training.

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